Short for Monestier-de-Clermont, an Alpine town near Grenoble, France, Moncler was founded in 1952 by René Ramillon as an outdoor-gear company, producing sleeping bags, tents, and other mountain-climbing necessities. Today, the French-Italian label is best known for its lightweight, super-warm quilted down jackets, as well as ready-to-wear and accessories hardy enough to take on harsh winter weather and stylish enough to hit the après-ski lodge.